Living With Fall Allergies: Triggers, Coping Strategies, And Medication Options

You may know the feeling. Itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose and even headaches all caused by seasonal allergies. If you think allergy symptoms only occur during the spring, you may be surprised to learn fall allergies also commonly occur.

Causes Of Fall Allergies

Allergies of any kind are caused when your immune system overreacts to a substance, which is typically harmless. Normally, your immune system helps your body fight off or recover from an infection. When you are allergic to something, your immune system mistakes the substance for something harmful and releases various chemicals including histamines. Histamines cause many common allergy symptoms.

The substances, which trigger allergic reactions varies widely among individuals. Some people have seasonal allergies, which means their symptoms are associated with a specific time of the year. Many people may think seasonal allergies usually occur in the spring when flowers are blooming and pollen counts are high. But fall allergies also affect millions of people each year.

Another common culprit leading to fall allergy symptoms is mold. Mold can be a problem for allergy suffers anytime of the year. But in the fall, mold spores can be in the air from fallen, damp leafs.

Dust mites can also be a cause of allergies in the autumn. Dust mites thrive in warm weather. After the warm summer months, waste products from dust mites may be trapped in air filters. Once you turn on the heat, you may release allergens into the air.  

Fall Allergy Symptoms   

The severity of fall allergy symptoms may vary from person to person. The part of the country you live in may also play a role in how likely you are to suffer from fall allergy symptoms. For instance, ragweed is more common in certain parts of the country. Although the weed grows everywhere, it is most common in the Midwest and East.

In prone to asthma, fall allergens, such as ragweed, can trigger an asthma attack, which can be serious. Signs of an asthma attack include trouble breathing, wheezing, coughing and anxiety.

Although serious reactions, such as trouble breathing, are not common, allergies can still be a very big nuisance. Symptoms can interfere will everyday activities and make sleep difficult. Fall allergies can also cause someone to restrict time spent outdoors or change plans due to symptoms. 

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Because fall allergy season also corresponds with the start of the cold season, it can be difficult to tell the difference between allergy symptoms and a cold. One way to distinguish the two is allergies often develop quickly. For example, you may be fine one minute, and once you go outside, you start sneezing and develop a runny nose. Colds usually develop a little more slowly.

How To Ease Falling Allergies     

Autumn can be the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the cooler weather. If you find yourself sneezing your way through the fall months, you may think you have to stay indoors all the time. You may feel the other alternative is taking allergy medication that leaves you feeling like a zombie. But if neither of the solutions above sounds good, you’re in luck. There are several things you can do to deal with fall allergies.

Prevention Of Fall Allergies

Prevention is often your best bet to reduce allergy symptoms. Instead of being on the defensive and treating symptoms as they develop, go on the offensive. Consider ways you can prevent allergy symptoms before they start.

Get tested. It may seem like a no-brainer, but you need to identify what you are allergic too. Many people assume they are allergic to a certain substance, but once they are tested, they find it is something different.

Monitor pollen counts in your area. While you don’t want to hibernate all fall, knowing the pollen counts may help you decide if you should limit outdoor activities. 

Avoid raking leafs. Raking fallen leafs can cause a release of mold spores into the air. If mold is an allergen for you, raking leafs should not be on your to-do list. If possible, get someone else to do the chore. If you do have to do yard work or rake leafs yourself, consider wearing a mask to filter out some of the particles. An N-95 respirator may be your best bet to filter out mold spores. 

Change your furnace and air conditioning filters. You may be spending more time indoors either due to chilly weather or high pollen counts. But if you are pumping pollen filled air into your home, allergy symptoms may soon follow.

Treatment Options For Fall Allergies

Medication Options: Medications are one way to treat fall allergy symptoms. Many types of allergy medication can be purchased over the counter. Most allergy medications contain an antihistamine, which help prevent symptoms from developing. They work by blocking the attachment of histamine to cells.

Allergy medications often come in different forms including pills, liquids, nasal sprays and eye drops. There are also non-drowsy formulas, which may be better for daytime use.  Before taking anything, it is best to speak to your doctor since drug interactions are a possibility.

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Consider allergy shots: if your allergies are severe or you don’t want to depend on medication to relieve symptoms, you may want to consider allergy shots. In order for allergy shots to be prescribed, your allergen needs to be clearly identified. Once you know what you are allergic too, small amounts of the allergen are administered to you in a series of shots. The amount injected is not enough to cause symptoms Instead, it is administered to help your immune system get used to the substance and build up a tolerance to it.